Veteran's Day

Earlier in the week, I received a phone call from my eldest daughter. My granddaughter's fourth grade class was scheduled to March in the Middleboro, MA. Veterans Day Parade. Each child would wear a gold star with the name of a veteran and / or an active service member. Lilia had chosen me to be on her star. The problem was that my daughter needed to choose between another equally important function for my grandson or Lil's parade. Would I be able to take Lil to the parade. Yes of course I said and can I march with her?

This Veterans Day was beautiful, a bonus for New England, sunny skies about 60 degrees. While we lined up in our designated area, Lil gravitated towards her classmates and I began a conversation with Cosmo who was wearing a hat for his Navy ship. He was in the Navy from 1946 to 1948. He could not get his mother to let him lie about his age and he still is sorry he missed WW II. He's 78 and when the parade started up a long incline, I noticed he was dropping back. By this time Lil was in a pack with her classmates, so I dropped back and Cosmo and I brought up the rear of the fourth grade class. We compared notes on the navy in the 40's and the 60's. He was a delightful person to march with. The parade ended at the town hall for ceremonies. The local high school marching band played all the theme songs for the 5 military branches. The flag was raised and moments of silence for those departed and those fighting. It was a nice way to spend Veterans Day.

One young man was wearing a gold star for his dad who is with the Army in Iraq. He has been in my thoughts all afternoon.